Paspalum repens

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent, or prostrate; 50–200 cm long; spongy; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-nodes brown. Leaf-sheaths inflated. Leaf-sheath auricles erect. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades lanceolate; parallel-sided; 10–20 cm long; 12–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; spreading, or ascending; unilateral; 2.5–10 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–30 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis; broadly winged; foliaceous; with rounded midrib; 1–1.5 mm wide; terminating in a barren extension; extension flattened. Spikelet packing abaxial; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; compressed strongly; plano-convex; acute; 1.4–2.3 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 2 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; hyaline; 2 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1–1.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION North America: north-central USA, northeast USA, south-central USA, southeast USA, and Mexico. South America: Mesoamericana, Caribbean, northern South America, western South America, Brazil, and southern South America.

NOTES Paniceae. Gr Bahia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.